#195: Heroes vs. Villains
ooc: Quotes in here are from the X2 movie.
What defines a hero and a villain?
General consensus. Media. Religion. Politics. Positions of power. Influence of opinion. The masses. Contemporary society.
Perception.
All of that is fluid, ever moving and ever changing. Someone believed to be a hero twenty years ago might be considered a villain in today's day and age. Someone considered a villain now might be thought of as a hero twenty years down the line. And viceversa.
One's personal beliefs and opinions don't seem to matter much. It's how you are perceived by everyone else that defines whether or not you would be considered a hero or a villain.
I learned this the very day I met Magneto, who is considered the supervillain of our time. The very first thing I ever said to him? "So, they say you're the bad guy."
He looked at me and smirked and replied, "Is that what they say?"
And now I'm part of the Brotherhood of Mutants. The 'bad guys'. The terrorists. The Villains. Because that's what they say we are.
But that's not the way I see it. I do what I have to, what others are too afraid or weak or nervous or cowardly or indifferent or opposed to do, for mutants. To make everyone aware that we're here, that we're not going away, that we have rights too. I am a soldier in an army fighting a war that the general public just does not want to admit to. What do they think, that if they don't acknowledge it, it isn't really happening? It doesn't work that way. We won't let it. It's not like that's why I signed up. To be a bad guy? Hell, no. There's more to what I do than just that, despite what people think.
Oh, but there can't be villains without heroes, right? Is that what makes someone a hero? Having a bad guy to fight, to stop, to kill? Is this what makes the X-Men heroes? Just the fact that they are there to oppose the 'bad guys.' Because, let me tell you, I know some of the X-Men on a personal level. They're not made of sunshine and rainbows, either. But, hey, if they say they are heroes, then it must be true. Then again, maybe there can't be villains without heroes either. So, because they are the heroes, that makes us the villains?
Heroes and Villains. Villains and Heroes. Us and them. Them and Us. But it's who is in between that defines those categories. Despite changing ideas, that's the part that's not going to change - perception is what will define a hero and a villain.
- so says the villain. For now.
What defines a hero and a villain?
General consensus. Media. Religion. Politics. Positions of power. Influence of opinion. The masses. Contemporary society.
Perception.
All of that is fluid, ever moving and ever changing. Someone believed to be a hero twenty years ago might be considered a villain in today's day and age. Someone considered a villain now might be thought of as a hero twenty years down the line. And viceversa.
One's personal beliefs and opinions don't seem to matter much. It's how you are perceived by everyone else that defines whether or not you would be considered a hero or a villain.
I learned this the very day I met Magneto, who is considered the supervillain of our time. The very first thing I ever said to him? "So, they say you're the bad guy."
He looked at me and smirked and replied, "Is that what they say?"
And now I'm part of the Brotherhood of Mutants. The 'bad guys'. The terrorists. The Villains. Because that's what they say we are.
But that's not the way I see it. I do what I have to, what others are too afraid or weak or nervous or cowardly or indifferent or opposed to do, for mutants. To make everyone aware that we're here, that we're not going away, that we have rights too. I am a soldier in an army fighting a war that the general public just does not want to admit to. What do they think, that if they don't acknowledge it, it isn't really happening? It doesn't work that way. We won't let it. It's not like that's why I signed up. To be a bad guy? Hell, no. There's more to what I do than just that, despite what people think.
Oh, but there can't be villains without heroes, right? Is that what makes someone a hero? Having a bad guy to fight, to stop, to kill? Is this what makes the X-Men heroes? Just the fact that they are there to oppose the 'bad guys.' Because, let me tell you, I know some of the X-Men on a personal level. They're not made of sunshine and rainbows, either. But, hey, if they say they are heroes, then it must be true. Then again, maybe there can't be villains without heroes either. So, because they are the heroes, that makes us the villains?
Heroes and Villains. Villains and Heroes. Us and them. Them and Us. But it's who is in between that defines those categories. Despite changing ideas, that's the part that's not going to change - perception is what will define a hero and a villain.
- so says the villain. For now.